This document contains data from the 1996 Census of Population and Housing, and describes the characteristics of people in Queensland and their housing arrangements. It is just a sample of what is available in the publication series Census of Population and Housing: Selected Characteristics for Urban Centres and Localities (Cat nos 2016.0-7), available for each State and Territory, and nationally.

The data presented in this document relate to where people were counted on census night, and therefore data for each geographical area includes visitors to that area but exclude those people who were away on census night. The document uses both the Urban Centre/Locality (UC/L) and the Section of State (SOS) geographic classifications which classify areas according to size of the population. Whilst the UC/L classification covers only part of the State or Territory, the SOS classification covers the State or Territory in its entirety.

This document presents only a selection of data from the full range of census variables. For further information about other census or Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data refer to the Directory of Census Statistics, 1996 or elsewhere on this site. Concepts and definitions used in this document, including UC/L and SOS, are explained in the Explanatory Notes and more detailed information is available in the Census Dictionary, 1996 (Cat. no. 2901.0)

The ABS draws extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated: without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

B. Doyle
Regional Director

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS

POPULATION DISTRIBUTION

Since 1991, there had been a 13.1% increase in the number of people counted in the Census (3,368,850) in Queensland. Almost half (49.7%) were counted in the Major Urban area and a further 31.0% were in the Other Urban area. The remainder were in rural areas (3.1% in the Bounded Locality and 16.1% in the Rural Balance).

In 1996, there were more females (50.3%) counted than males (49.7%). While the proportion of females was highest in the Major Urban area (51.1%), the proportion of males was highest in the Rural Balance (52.3%). These levels were similar to those of 1991.

Males outnumbered females in the majority (54%) of UC/Ls, particularly in Mungindi (Qld Part) (L) (hereafter Mungindi (L) (61.9%) on the NSW border, and Bluff (L) (59.4%) and Duaringa (L) (59.1%) near Blackwater. Localities which recorded the highest proportions of females were Herberton (58.9%) on the Atherton Tableland, Arcadia Bay (54.7%) on Magnetic Island and Mount Larcom (54.5%) near Gladstone.

AGE

The population in the State is aging. In 1996, the median age for Queensland was 33 years, compared with 32 years in 1991. The proportion of people aged 65 years or more also increased from 11.6% in 1991 to 12.0% in 1996.

In 1996, the proportion of people in the Rural Balance aged 65 years or more (8.1%) was considerably lower than in the rest of the State (13.6% in Bounded Locality, 13.5% in Other Urban and 12.3% in Major Urban). On the other hand, the Rural Balance recorded the highest proportion of children (aged 0-14 years), with 25.0%.

At the UC/L level, the highest percentages of people aged 65 years or more were recorded in the coastal areas of Burrum Heads (L) (43.5%), Trebonne (L) (36.3%) and Seaforth (L) (35.1%) and Willows Gemfields (L) (36.7%) west of Emerald. The highest proportions of children were recorded in the Indigenous communities of New Mapoon (L) (43.1%) and Umagico (L) (42.4%) both at the tip of Cape York Peninsula, Dajarra (L) (46.3%) south of Mount Isa and Woorabinda (41.0%).

BIRTHPLACE

Australian-born

Over three-quarters (78.4%) of those counted in the Census in Queensland were Australian-born, a slight decrease since 1991 (80.6%). The Major Urban area recorded a lower percentage than that for the State in both 1996 and 1991 (74.4% and 76.6% respectively).

Of the people counted in Queensland, 8.6% stated that they had been born in the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland or New Zealand (NZ), a decrease since 1991 (8.9%). The Major Urban area recorded a higher proportion of people born in these countries than the State as a whole (10.1% in 1996 and 10.6% in 1991). High proportions were also recorded in several UC/Ls of south-eastern Queensland, ranging from 15.3% in Hope Island (L) to 17.2% in Helensvale.

People born overseas in countries other than UK, Ireland or NZ accounted for 7.9% of the Queensland population, which was similar to the 1991 figure of 7.4%. The Major Urban area recorded the highest proportion of people born in these countries with 10.6% (9.7% in 1991). Likewise at the UC/L level, high proportions were noted in the Localities of Trebonne (28.3%) near Ingham, Dimbulah (21.4%) near Mareeba and Kooralbyn (19.2%) south-west of Beaudesert.

INDIGENOUS ORIGIN

The number of people who reported being of Indigenous origin increased by 36.3% between 1991 and 1996, from 70,102 to 95,518. As a proportion of the Queensland population, this represented an increase, from 2.4% to 2.8%. The proportion of Indigenous people was lowest in the Major Urban area (1.6% in 1996 and 1.1% in 1991).

Apart from Cherbourg (96.7%), UC/Ls in the north of the State recorded the highest proportions of Indigenous people: Wujal Wujal (L) (95.6%), Yarrabah, Injinoo (Cowal Creek) (L) and Hope Vale (L) (each 95.0%). However, in the majority of UC/Ls (211 out of 348) the proportion was less than that of Queensland overall (2.8%).

LONE PERSON HOUSEHOLDS

In 1996 there were 248,336 lone person households in Queensland, an increase of 36.2% over 1991 (182,389). Most of this change occurred in the Major Urban and Other Urban areas (increases of 35,745 and 23,535 households respectively). Lone person households, as a proportion of all households in private dwellings, ranged from 14.1% in the Rural Balance to 22.0% in the Major Urban area.

At the UC/L level, the highest percentages were recorded in the Localities of Picnic Bay (37.6%) on Magnetic Island, Pentland ( 34.7%), Malanda and Springsure (both 33.3%).

FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN

About half (50.6%) of all family households had dependent children (53.2% in 1991). Family households with dependent children had increased by 9.0% since 1991, from 390,871 to 426,025. The majority of this increase occurred in the urban areas, while the Bounded Locality recorded a decrease. The percentages of family households with dependent children ranged from 49.3% in the Bounded Locality to 52.6% in the Rural Balance.

Very high percentages of family households with dependent children were recorded in the Localities of New Mapoon (89.5%), Lockhart River (86.7%), Doomadgee (86.2%) and Mungindi (Qld Part) (82.4%).

LABOUR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS (For persons aged 15 years and over)

EMPLOYED

In 1996 there were 1,420,668 employed people in Queensland compared with 1,222,133 in 1991, representing an increase of 16.2%. Just over half of these were enumerated in the Major Urban area (51.9% in 1996 and 51.4% in 1991).

Urban Centres with the largest numbers of employed people were Brisbane (582,171),
Gold Coast (106,433), Townsville-Thuringowa (48,796), Cairns (41,113) and Toowoomba (33,395).

Full-time employment

Of the 1,420,668 employed people in Queensland, 962,011 (67.7%) worked full-time. This was an increase of 13.4% over 1991 (848,257). About two-thirds (66.4%) of the full-time workers were male, which was similar to the situation in 1991 (67.8%). The percentage of male full-time workers was highest in the Bounded Locality (70.5%).

UC/Ls, which recorded the highest percentages of male full-time employees, were Bluff (L) (90.7%), Middlemount (86.1%) and Tieri (85.9%), all inland from Yeppoon, and Pentland (L) (89.1%), south-west of Charters Towers. High percentages of female full-time employees were recorded in Hamilton Island (43.3%), Thursday Island and Craiglie (both 43.2%).

Part-time employment

In 1996, 427,793 people were employed part-time. This was an increase of 37.1% since 1991 (312,043). Unlike their full-time counterparts, the majority (66.9%) of part-time workers were female (68.2% in 1991). The highest proportion of female part-time workers was recorded in the Other Urban area (67.6%).

Localities which recorded the highest percentages of female part-time employees were mainly in the south of the State: Bell (100%) and Cecil Plains (88.0%), near Dalby, and Thargomindah (84.2%), in Bulloo Shire. Johnstone South (L) (84.9%), near Innisfail, also recorded a high percentage of female part-time employees. The highest rates for males were recorded in Doomadgee (L) (75.5%), in the far north-west, and the island Locality of St Pauls (73.7%), in Torres Local Government Area.

Occupation

In 1996, almost a quarter (23.9%) of employed people were Managers and administrators or Professionals, compared with 22.5% in 1991. In both 1996 and 1991 the Rural Balance recorded the highest percentages in these occupations (31.0% and 31.9% respectively), although it should be noted that Managers and administrators included farm managers.

Labourers and related workers accounted for a further 9.8% of employed people, down from 10.6% in 1991. The Bounded Locality recorded the highest percentages in this occupation group (16.8% in 1996 and 15.8% in 1991). High percentages were also recorded in the northern Indigenous communities of Wujal Wujal (L), (66.4%), Kowanyama (L) (64.4%), Aurukun (L) (58.8%) and Palm Islands (57.5%).

Industry

Just over one-third of employed people (34.0%) worked in the industries of Manufacturing, Retail trade or Health and community services, the top three employing industries for the State (32.5% in 1991). In both censuses, the percentages for these industries in the Major Urban area were higher than for the other area types (35.5% in 1996 and 34.8% in 1991).

UC/Ls with the highest levels in these industries were the Indigenous communities of Wujal
Wujal (L) (97.7%), Umagico (L) (94.0%), Injinoo (Cowal Creek) (L) (87.6%), Cherbourg (84.2%) and Lockhart River (L) (83.4%). The overwhelming majority of these were employed in Health and community services.

Private Sector

The proportion of people employed in the Queensland private sector increased between 1991 (73.3%) and 1996 (79.0%). The Rural Balance percentage was higher than for the other regional groupings (82.2% in 1996 and 78.3% in 1991).

In all except 30 UC/Ls, the majority of employed people worked in private enterprise. Tieri (92.2%) and Kooralbyn (L) (90.3%), along with the coastal areas of Hamilton Island (95.9%), Hope Island (L) (94.4%), Craiglie (92.9%) and Santa Barbara (90.8%) recorded the highest percentages.

UNEMPLOYED

In 1996, there were 151,717 unemployed people in Queensland compared with 156,334 in 1991 - a decrease of 3.0%. The overall unemployment rate was 9.6% (11.3% in 1991), while the rate for people aged 15-24 years was 16.4% (18.7% in 1991). Both rates were highest in the Other Urban area (10.7% and 18.0% respectively).

UC/Ls which recorded comparatively high unemployment rates and numbers of people were the Indigenous community of Woorabinda (46.7% and 161) and Mudjimba (23.2% and 419). Those which recorded high rates and numbers for people aged 15-24 years, were Coolum Beach (32.0% and 159) and Bongaree (31.3% and 156), both on the coast north of Brisbane.

OCCUPIED PRIVATE DWELLINGS

TENURE TYPE

In 1996, there were 611,460 occupied private dwellings in the Major Urban area, accounting for 50.8% of the occupied private dwellings in the State. A further 375,387 were located in the Other Urban area (31.2%), with 37,439 in the Bounded Locality (3.1%) and 179,786 in the Rural Balance (14.9%).

Fully owned

About two-fifths of the occupied private dwellings counted in Queensland were fully owned by their occupants (38.7% in 1996 and 40.7% in 1991). In both 1996 (46.8%) and 1991 (47.9%) the Rural Balance recorded the highest ownership levels.

In 23.0% of the UC/Ls, the majority of the occupied private dwellings were fully owned. Two Localities near Emerald recorded the highest rates of home ownership: Willows Gemfields (71.5%) and Rubyvale (69.3%).

Being purchased

In 1996, almost one-quarter (24.8%) of the occupied private dwellings in Queensland were being purchased by their occupants, a slight increase over 1991 (23.9%). The Rural Balance (28.3%) and the Major Urban area (25.8%) recorded higher percentages than the State as a whole.

High levels of homes being purchased were recorded in the UC/Ls of Bohle Plains (L) (61.0%) and Alice River (59.5%), in the Townsville hinterland, and Wyreema (L) (60.0%) and Kingsthorpe (58.4%), near Toowoomba.

Rented

In 1996, 31.8% of the occupied private dwellings in the State were being rented, compared with 28.5% in 1991. The Other Urban area recorded the highest percentage of homes being rented in both 1996 (35.8%) and 1991 (33.0%).

Extremely high percentages were recorded in the coal mining centres of Middlemount (96.9%), Glenden (95.9%) and Tieri (93.0%), the Indigenous community of Cherbourg (96.2%) and Weipa (94.9%) which is associated with bauxite mining.

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

The median household income in 1996 of $618 per week showed an increase of 17.3% over 1991 ($527). In 1996, the State median was exceeded by that of the Major Urban area ($658), which was also the case in 1991 ($565).

Urban Centres in the coal mining belt of the Bowen Basin recorded the highest median household incomes: Moranbah ($2,000), Dysart ($1,708), Tieri ($1,348), Middlemount ($1,231) and Glenden ($1,203). The lowest were recorded in the Localities of Pentland ($235) and Willows Gemfields ($250).

HOUSING LOAN REPAYMENTS

Between 1991 and 1996, there was a substantial increase (47.3%) in the median housing loan repayment for the State, from $543 to $800 per month. Across the State, the highest median housing loan repayment was recorded for the Major Urban area ($850).

The median weekly rent payment for Queensland of $125 in 1996 represented an increase of 17.9% on the 1991 figure of $106. The 1996 median rent recorded for the Major Urban area ($140) was higher than that for the State as a whole, which was also the case in 1991 ($124).

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